Final chance to have your say on the future of libraries

Just over two weeks remain for people to have their say on the future of libraries as part of the County Council's public consultation.

Considerable progress has been made over recent years in modernising Worcestershire's library services to ensure value for money.

A Libraries' Transformation programme was launched by the Council in 2011 which has seen over £3.7m of efficiency savings made through community support for libraries, sharing library buildings with other local services, making changes to the Mobile Library service, streamlining staff and management structures, investing in self-service technology and modernising stock buying and delivery.

This change across libraries needs to continue in response to new financial challenges, developments in technology and changing customer needs and expectations. Communities are now being given the opportunity to play an increasingly important role in how their local libraries are run.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "We've had more than 1,200 responses so far to the consultation which is great. We also had around 800 people come along to our drop-in sessions at each of our libraries that we visited before and after Christmas.

"With only two weeks to go, if you haven't already taken part in the consultation, then please make sure you do so you can have your say on the future of our libraries."

As the financial pressures grow on the County Council, libraries must continue to evolve in order to provide modern services for residents and ensure value for money.